Abruzzo: Cooking, Wine & Walking – 7 days small group escorted tour

Rome Fiumicino airport pick up at 12:30 pm and transfer to the ancient Roman town of Vasto on the Adriatic Coast after crossing beautiful Abruzzo mountains looking at amazing landscapes. After checking at charming and family run Hotel San Marco (or a similar accommodation) in the historical downtown, get to know your guide and learn more about the 7-day Italian cookery holiday and enjoy a welcome dinner in a traditional restaurant in the heart of Vasto.

After a visit to Vasto’s colourful market to get seasonal products, we’ll have an exclusive cooking class with a homemaker in her house. We’ll learn how easy fresh pasta is to make and be introduced to her favourite seasonal sauces. An example menu includes Bread with meat sauce, Pasta alla chitarra with meat sauce and polite (meatballs), Cavatelli with vegetables and Tarallucci (typical biscuits from Abruzzo). Naturally, this depends on seasonal availability.  Lunch will consist of the delicious dishes that have been prepared in the morning. In the afternoon, we’ll explore Loggia Amblingh, a promenade overlooking the fascinating crescent-shaped coastline, the old town with its medieval Castle, charming lanes, a tower, the Cathedral and Piazza Rossetti, dedicated to Gabriele Rossetti, a poet from the town and father of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Before free time, we’ll meet some local artisans.  Tonight you may experience dinner or on your own in one of the many restaurants of Vasto

After breakfast, we’ll drive to the marvellous Abruzzo mountains and national parks to have a light and scenic walk* to discover solitary and remote hermitages in the rocky mountainside and admire unique landscapes. We’ll enjoy a traditional picnic with local products. Dinner in a traditional restaurant in the heart of Vasto

After breakfast, we’ll drive to the fascinating Abruzzo coastline to have a light and picturesque walk in a marine reserve to discover the landmark symbols of the area, the trabocchi.  We’ll have a particular fish lunch on a trabocco. Rinaldo, our host, will show us how to fish from it and the secrets and history behind Abruzzo’s unique fishing platforms. Free afternoon for your own activities, such as going to one of the many beaches, biking, taking part in some extra activities/excursions or whatever you prefer. Dinner at your leisure

After breakfast, we’ll make our way to the farm, where Pina and Berardino will reveal the secrets of sheep and cow farming to us and guide those that would like to learn how to milk a sheep or a cow. After a cheese snack, we’ll learn how to prepare ricotta cheese in their creamery. A delicious traditional lunch will be prepared and served. This will be the time to savour just made warm ricotta cheese. We’ll explore the enchanting Abruzzo’s castle in the sky in Roccascalegna.  Tonight you may experience dinner or on your own in one of the many restaurants of Vasto.

Following breakfast, we’ll visit the La Selvotta Olive Grove Giovanni’s family has farmed for 3 generations to produce DOP olive oils. He will unveil the secrets of what Homer described as “liquid gold”, and we will finish with an olive oil tasting. Next, we’ll visit Fontefico, an award-winning winery between a marine park and the mountains. We’ll have a wine tasting with pairings from local cheeses and salami and a tour of the vineyard and cellars by owners Emanuele and Nicola. After lunch, we’ll have a homemade pizza cooking class that includes the teaching of traditional bruschetta and tiramisù

After breakfast, departure (generally at 09:00 am) for Rome Fiumicino airport or your next destination (3,5 hours driving from hotel to Rome Fiumicino airport)

NOTE: Your itinerary is a guide to your activities during the week. However, sometimes we modify the final itinerary to take advantage of the season and the weather. Our goal is to ensure that everyone has a fabulous time, which sometimes means tweaking the schedule even after your arrival. Your guide will give suggestions during the week, and the group will decide if any changes are needed. I want you to know that only enhanced experiences are ever considered.